GAME REPORT

Big First Half Gets Good Angels Home

Allie Quigley came up with 13 points in a winning effort

Turning Point: There was no turning point in this game, only one way traffic as Good Angels Kosice went 24-10 ahead after the opening ten minutes, before pushing their foot on the accelerator to establish a 30-point half-time advantage.

Game Heroes: Plenette Pierson had 15 points and four steals for Kosice, whilst Allie Quigley weighed in with 13 points and six rebounds.

Stats Don't Lie: Throughout the season, Kosice have impressed with vibrant team-orientated basketball and this was highlighted by having seven different scorers inside the first eight minutes.

Good Angels Kosice racked up their first ever success at the EuroLeague Women Final Eight in impressive style with a 71-65 win against Galatasaray in Group B.

They picked up their ninth win in ten games, to show they are the real deal after an astonishing first twenty minutes which left Galatasaray reeling.

Whilst the victorious Slovak club had to weather a late onslaught from their opponents, the final margin flattered Gala since Kosice never looked like relinquishing their lead.

Starting brightly with a 10-3 opening to the contest, Good Angels were full of energy and a couple of big plays by Natasha Lacy epitomised the difference between the teams during the early exchanges.

Galatasaray have suffered from a lack of offensive fluidity at regular intervals during the campaign and this was again an issue as they struggled to get anything to drop.

It was in stark contrast to the smooth Kosice who revelled in having potent offensive dangers full of confidence all over the floor and none more so than Allie Quigley.

She made it 33-10 with a triple and then minutes later, grabbed a steal and made a sweet jump-shot in transition to make it 39-12.

Tijana Krivacevic also joined the party by finishing a nice baseline move, to offer one more play for the highlight reel.

When Gala returned from the half-time break staring at an unthinkable 46-16 scoreline, a backlash was perhaps inevitable.

It materialised as Galatasaray outscored their opponent 19-7, managing more points in seven minutes than they had during the first twenty.

At 55-38, there was the prospect of at least a wobble in the confidence of Kosice and a final quarter flourish by Gala helped them cut the gap to single digits but in reality, it proved too little too late.

Understandably, Gala play-caller Ekrem Memnun was quick to express his frustration after the game.

"We started terrible and were not mentally on the court even though we knew how good they were and we scouted them well," bemoaned the coach.

"At least we showed some pride and I am happy with the second half effort, but we are a much better team than we showed today.

"At this moment, I can only congratulate the excellent game of Kosice."

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